The beauty of creation…

It's become a sad memory

No, it’s not a podcast this time.

It is one of the images I use for my wallpaper on my gorgeous Studio Display that I use with my M4 Mini. It almost caused cathartic weeping in me this afternoon. It’s just a stock image of the deep Rio Grande Valley between Taos and Española, New Mexico, looking across the river from the north bank, and up Embudo Creek which runs between the two cones into the river. But the sadness almost overcame me this afternoon.

For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God; for the creation was subjected to futility, not of its own will but by the will of him who subjected it in hope; because the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God. We know that the whole creation has been groaning in travail together until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. Romans 8:19-23

I’m appalled by what we have done to the planet the Lord created for us. I know we’re near the end of the second iteration—what I call The Training Place of Mankind. I’m looking forward to the radical planetary remodeling which is coming within the next decade (almost for sure). Here’s an edited partial description from Isaiah 24.

Behold, the Lord will lay waste the earth and make it desolate,
and he will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants…
The earth shall be utterly laid waste and utterly despoiled;
for the Lord has spoken this word.
The earth mourns and withers,
the world languishes and withers;
the heavens languish together with the earth.
The earth lies polluted under its inhabitants;
for they have transgressed the laws,
violated the statutes,
broken the everlasting covenant.
Therefore a curse devours the earth,
and its inhabitants suffer for their guilt;
therefore the inhabitants of the earth are scorched,
and few men are left…
For the windows of heaven are opened,
and the foundations of the earth tremble.
The earth is utterly broken,
the earth is rent asunder,
the earth is violently shaken.
The earth staggers like a drunken man,
it sways like a hut;
its transgression lies heavy upon it,
and it falls, and will not rise again…

No wonder creation is groaning

I could give you several other quotes which are far worse. Mankind’s sinful, self-centered rebellion has been set free to ruin itself and the planet we were given. “For we shall be as gods.” “You can’t tell me what to do.” You ain’t seen nothing yet.

I can still remember canoeing with my parents in 1954, in the Minnesota Boundary waters, just south of the Canadian border, far before the Boundary Waters were set aside into their current prison. At that point, the earth’s population was under 2.8 billion people. At ten years old, I remember looking over the side of the canoe and being able to clearly see the bare rock nearly 30 feet below me through the very cold, delicious, crystal clear water. We would just scoop a cup of water out of the lake to drink as we crossed over the lake to the next portage.

We still have one more iteration before this creation is dissolved in fire. Then all of us who love the Lord will watch as the Father creates the real deal in which we will live for eternity. Talk about a fireworks display!

It’s not too late!

The time is getting short enough so that you need to ask Jesus directly. Just get off by yourself, and speak quietly into the air. “Jesus, that crazy man on Substack tells me that you will answer if I ask. What do I need to do to meet you and come to know you?” He’ll answer you. It’s so late that it may be audible. He may send someone to help you through. He may guide you through the Bible to various verses. But He will do it. It will be good.

You’re welcome.